Bucs vs. Ravens: Most Disappointing Players In Week 8

It was another tough game for the Bucs against the Ravens on Thursday Night Football in a 27-22 loss. There were similar, recurring themes on both sides of the football that have held this team back throughout the season, contributing to a disappointing 3-5 record. 

After a promising first quarter, the Bucs offense did little besides drives going well only to stall for field goals. Their red zone efficiency continues to plague drives. It isn’t for the lack of big plays; they had plenty of deep throws to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. But by not having sustained drives, they let the Ravens control the clock, get back in the game, and ultimately take it over. As seen in previous weeks, the disappointing list continues to grow.

With that said, here are the most disappointing players for the Bucs in Week 8:

QB Tom Brady

Is this game solely on Brady as he has been the head of this offense? Not by himself, but he also did not do himself any favors. Per his standards, he made some questionable throws into coverage, made overthrows in the end zone multiple times to Mike Evans, and there were also instances of not finding receivers in stride. He is still Tom Brady, but there have been cracks in the Bucs offensive armor, and he needs to provide more than padding his numbers in the second halves of games mostly out of reach.

Since the 41-31 loss to Kansas City in Week 4, the offense has not consistently moved the ball down the field to score touchdowns. Field goals only go so far and keep you in the game for so long. Que the talk of ‘executing’ on drives.

Place all the blame you want on offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich, but Brady needs to get back to the level he displayed last season by making the key situational throws as well as the ‘gimme’ passes when receivers have space to gain yards.

RB Leonard Fournette

Although he scored a touchdown from a yard out, Fournette did little to open up the Bucs running game. He averaged less than three yards a carry. And since Week 1 in Dallas, the Bucs running back has failed to gain more than 65 yards on the ground in any game. Those numbers should be highly attainable for him, especially for being paid like a top back. 

Rookie Rachaad White outplayed him in limited snaps and is dynamic on the ground and in the air. Perhaps it may be time for a change in the running back room. Or at the very least, a more even timeshare.

ILB Devin White

Devin White is lost, and it’s becoming a common theme. White disappointed throughout the contest. As an inside linebacker, he failed to hang with the Ravens’ tight ends and running backs. He allowed both Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely to make big plays over the middle, while also being responsible for not closing out on running back Kenyan Drake as he caught a touchdown in the third quarter.

White failed to make stops in passing and running situations, constantly getting pushed back and unable to break blocks. Until seen otherwise, he is a frustrating talent unable to put it all together. Or simply put, overrated:

CB Dee Delaney 

Delaney was responsible for the Ravens getting another chance to put the first points on the board after colliding with punt returner Jaelon Darden:

There is no excuse for running into the returner on special teams, and he also failed to impress in coverage. Delaney needed to play well with much of the secondary being injured but failed to do so. 

WR Julio Jones

A presumed weapon on offense heading into this season has instead mostly shot blanks. While it was clear coming into this season that this is not the same Julio Jones that put up monster numbers for years, this version has barely been replacement level when on the field. It is sad to see his decline due to injuries in the past couple of seasons. 

In this game, Jones for the most part failed to make an impact after missing the past couple of weeks. He salvaged his performance some with a garbage time touchdown, but also missed some key opportunities. He had a designed sweep play go for no gain, a potential big catch he failed to hang onto in the fourth quarter, and just two catches for 21 yards. The expectations for him coming into 2022 were not ‘high,’ but there was at least hope for some upside as a third, maybe fourth option. Now, it is news if he does make a play. Surely a disappointing storyline for such an established player.

OLB Joe Tryon-Shoyinka

Tryon-Shoyinka added to his sack total in Week 8 but also displayed the inconsistently holding him back from taking the next step well within his reach. He missed an opportunity to bring Lamar Jackson down early, diving just outside of reach. He also had a facemask call against him when he easily could have beat his man on the play. He has all the tools but needs to be consistent and make the plays he is capable of making.

WR Mike Evans

A classic case of box score watching not telling the whole story. Fantasy owners will love Evans’ six-catch, 123-yard performance. But those six catches came amongst 11 targets. And it was the non-catches that had some of the biggest impact on the game. Evans left two big plays on the table with terrible drops.

Plays like the deep shot in the second quarter that Brady put on his back shoulder. Evans let it hit him in the stomach before dropping it. That would have put the Bucs close to field goal range. Or the slant in the end zone that was nearly picked. It was obvious Brady expected Evans to break in front of the corner quicker, but since Evans didn’t the ball was almost picked off.

As a veteran leader Evans has to make those plays to help pull the team out of the horrid funk they are in.

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